The box office results for the weekend of September 6th – 8th is highlighted by a lone release about a loaner futuristic outlaw. Riddick easily won the top honors but will have to rely on international help if it has any chance of seeing the black ink. Here are the studio estimates:
1. Riddick ($18.6 million)
2. Lee Daniels’ The Butler ($8.9 million)
3. Instructions Not Included ($8.1 million)
4. We’re the Millers ($7.9 million)
5. Planes ($4.2 million)
6. One Direction: This Is Us ($4.1 million)
7. Elysium ($3.1 million)
8. Blue Jasmine ($2.6 million)
9. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters ($2.5 million)
10. The World’s End ($2.3 million)
Analysis
Trying to capitalize on Vin Diesel’s resurgence – mainly due to the last few Fast & Furious installments – the third entry into the Riddick series seemingly only attracted loyal fans of the franchise, whose last journey on the screen was back in 2004. The production budget was a relatively tame $38 million, but as noted above, the overseas crowd is the only chance this has in seeing profitable light. Plus, the previous two (Pitch Black, Chronicles of Riddick) never made a blockbuster-like impact.
In its second weekend, One Direction: This Is Us plummeted off the theatrical stage to the tune of 74%. (Told ya so). The 3D concert/documentary is now up to $24 million stateside off a $10 million production budget.
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters ($59.8 million), Planes ($79.2 million), and Elysium ($85 million) all share the longest streak in the top ten with 5 weeks apiece. And that’s not really something you want to brag about as Hollywood transitions from the Summer to Fall season.
This Friday, the 13th by the way, we get The Family and Insidious Chapter 2. Reviews will be right here my fellow Shockers!
